Internet Connection Sharing

Full Title

Internet Connection Sharing is a process running on a local windows client computer that enable a DNS sever at localhost (127/0/0/1) for a variety of purposes including filtering out some IP addresses.

Context

I have seen several posts reporting a very slow internet connection when using "Internet connection sharing" between computers connected via LAN.

If you don't know what it is, it is an option for sharing the internet connection between computers via LAN cable. In my case I connect a Laptop with integrated wifi connection to a desktop pc without wifi, via LAN cable, so the laptop shares the internet connection with the desktop pc.

This is a recurrent problem for me, and it seems that every 2 o 3 windows updates the problem comes again.

There are several threads about it on Reddit an others forums. By the look of things, there is no known cause for this, as there are many factors in the equation.

I would like to share the 2 workarounds that usually works for me. I have never seen one of them published in any forum, so just in case this is useful to anyone:

Solution 1:

Go to "Device Manager"> "Network Adapter" > Right-click on your network adapter, in my case "Intel(R) XXXX Gigabit network connection" > Properties > Advance (Tab) > Speed & Duplex > 100Mbps Full Duplex

(This usually resolves the problem, I only have to do it in the laptop to make it work, but if it doesn't work for you, it is worth it trying to do it in the desktop pc too).

Solution 2:

So, if that one doesn't work, this always work for me.

Unable the "Internet sharing connection". Go to, "View network connections" (You can type it on the windows bar) > Right-click on the wifi connection > Properties > Sharing > untick "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection"

After that:

Select the WIFI and Ethernet connection on the "network connection" windows and right-click on it > Bridge connections.

After that, try again the internet connection. In my case, this never works, but it has worked for a user who reported the same problem.

Last step in case it doesn't work for you. Delete the Bridge Connection created above, and activate the "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection" again (yes, the one we untick a few steps above) and, who knows why, but the Internet connection is back up and running at full speed on the desktop pc.

It is a very random solution, but It worked 100% of the times so far (for me). Just that, I hope it works for you.